Saturday, June 05, 2010

Welcome to Shannon Delany's Start Your Day with Serial Tour! Shannon's debut novel (and first in her YA paranormal series) 13 to Life started as a winning cell phone novel written in serial segments. During the tour you can read bits of the book in order. Miss a day? Hop to Shannon's blog http://13toLife.us/blog and check the link to the blog tour calendar in her sidebar.

There will also be a contest that will close at the end of the tour. Winners get a bunch of stuff.

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What's in a Name: 13 to Life

Shakespeare says it far more eloquently than I ever could when Juliet declares, in her famous balcony scene, “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

I admit it, I’m a total sucker for what names are supposed to mean. I can spend days at BehindtheName.com just imagining characters based on what their names supposedly mean. I’ve occasionally quizzed people on what their name represents when I’m signing 13 to Life posters and excerpt books. Yes, I’m a nerd.

My pseudonym is a fine example of my strange obsession. When I was told my original pseudonym (Saoirse Redgrave) was a no-go I was devastated. Saoirse means (essentially) freedom and what should a pseudonym really give an author but that? But it is (amazingly) difficult to spell. So. Many. Vowels. As a result, I eventually wound up as Shannon Delany.

In 13 to Life (June 22, St. Martin’s Press) my obsession with names again shows a bit. Most of my characters have names that reference historical characters or are ways I play with different aspects of foreshadowing within a character. And one character’s name, specifically, gives important hints to how things line up in the rest of the series. Of course, a couple are also red herrings because I become bored easily.

Why so much hassle and thought when naming characters in a paranormal story? Precisely because it’s a paranormal. And things are seldom only what they seem at first to be.

So, do you know what your name means? Was there a special reason you were given it by your parents? How will you live up to (or beyond) the potential your name declares you have?

My father chose my name because he loved Cyndi Lauper hehe, and I am most definitely not a singer!

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Now I have a little snippet of the book to share with you! If you missed the previous one, visit Teen Channel Reviews!

13 to Life: Chapter 3, part D (used with the author’s permission)

My lunch tray made a clicking noise as it hit the rails in front of the steaming bins of what passed for food at Junction High. The scents blurred and blended — macaroni and pizza, Salisbury steak and meatloaf, shepherd's pie alongside overcooked peas and rubbery carrots… It all became a nauseating blend of substandard fare. I grabbed a questionable salad plate and a yogurt, pausing briefly to check the stamped date — expiration was imminent, but at least the yogurt and I still had today.

Shannon's hosting several contests during the Start Your Day with Serial Tour. The big contest will award one lucky winner with a royal amber pendant, pietersite jeweled bookmark, stuffed wolf, 13 to Life mousepad, pen, tote, signed poster, personalized copy of 13 to Life and both of the 13 to Life pins. All you need to do is comment at 13 of the blogs hosting Shannon during her 30 day tour. Everyone who does so will be entered into a random drawing. Winner may be international.

65 People left their mark' :

Second, this name thing is one of my most hated stories. I was named after a photograph...yep that's right. 2 or 3 days before my mom went into labor, they were shopping. My dad came across a cross stitch baby blanket that had, Jennifer Lynn Thompson April 27, 1977 stitched across the bottom.

They, had an idea I was a girl, but NO idea for names, I guess it was a "wait and see what she looks like" kinda thing...Well, days later, I was born ON April 27, 1977 and my parents last name is Thompson - so, they figured why not, then went back and bought the blanket so my mom could sew it for me.

So, I have one of the most common names in the US, and I was not named after family or even something semi creative, nope I was named after a blanket hanging in a store...

My sister on the other hand is named after both our grandmothers - yeah I am not jealous or anything, swear! ;)

Yesenia means wild flower in Russian or so I'm told. I also read it is the name of an African tribe. I'm Mexican by the way. My mom heard the name way back when she was little. It was the lead in some Spanish soap they played in Mexico.

Thank you very much Shannon for the giveaway. That is very kind of you.

My name is Ardee-ann. I am named after my grandfather who worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and whose initials were R. D. and that is what his co-workers on the railroad called him. My mother made a name of it and I became Ardee-ann. It is at the crux of my identity.

I had to look up my name & it said Sue is for Lily. My mom named me that cause she wanted a short first name to go with a long last name. LOL.Your book sounds really good. The book cover is beautiful. I am a new follower.Sue B

Great interview, I like the questions you asked! I don't really know what my name means officially, but my parents tell me it means several things:1. Success2. A Song note in India3. unknownThanks for the giveaway!

My name is Amy and it means Beloved. As far as I know there was no special reason behind my parents choosing it, I think my mom just liked it! ;) AS for how to live up to it...? Well, I'm pretty sure I'm loved by my family, so I totally have that under control! HAHA!

Apparently my name means dark or the male form of Adrian, boring. According to my mom she didn't have a name for me and just picked it when I was born, but my name is her second choice. My grandpa hated the first name which was Verenice Ivette... I should thank grandpa for that.

I was named after a soap opera character. That is where my mom got the name Angela. And actually I've always disliked Angela and gone by Angie. My mom never called me Angela so I really don't know why she just didn't name me Angie:)Thanks for the giveaway!

I agree, coming up with names for a book (especially a paranormal) is extremely difficult! It took me forever to get the male names for my WIP...the females were a lot easier, but I think that's because I've written about them a bit more thus far.

Tori is short for Victoria, which means victory. I was named Victoria after my great uncle(I think it was?) who was named Victor.

I think that, name aside, I'm a very ambitious person. I'm a Capricorn also, so the thirst for victory, and working hard has just been indirectly drilled into my personality. My parents had fairly high standards for me when I was younger also, so that helped mold me into the person I am today.

Book Crazy Jen--I <3 that story! (Please note I was nearly named for a previous girlfriend of my Dad's but Mom put a quick stop to *that*. 2 letters different and tah-dah--the compromise of Shannon.)

Mrs. DeRaps--You're in good company here (I'm hardly what qualifies as domesticated. ;-)

Elizabeth--that's a great classic name! Had a few Queens that made it synonymous with power and dignity. ;-)

Anna--that's a wonderful classical name, too. And who couldn't use more grace in their life?

Yesenia--I *have* heard your name before ( <3 it!). I'd heard it related to Russia and somehow connected to Spanish but had no clue there was a tie-in to Africa, too. Cool!

Bookaholic (Jessica). Your name's shared with that of my narrator for several reasons. A good name (with a Shakespearean history of its own. ;-)

Ardee-ann --What a terrific story to go with your name (and a connection to the railroad!). My granddad was also a railroad man (mainly running along one strip of rail in western North Carolina). The stories I heard of his time working the rails!

Hi Sue! I understand the balance of putting names together (my DH's last name is very short so my real name's hyphenated to make up the difference ;-).

Jenni--Cool! "White wave" is so dramatic!

Kirthi--you have a beautiful name! I went searching briefly online and it looks like the closest variation of your name tends to drop the h and it often means something related to "fame" or "glory." Not too shabby! ;-)

Amy--LOL! See, so you're definitely living up to your name's potential! *g* Btw, one of my narrator's best friends is named Amy (and she's got attitude, too ;-).

thank you for the giveaway shannon! my name is two letters from my father's name (the k and the i, from keith), two letters from my mother's name (the a and the h, from deborah), and an s stuck in the middle. doesn't mean a thing - is this what people did in the 70s? lol

i've been told by some haitian friends of mine from work that my name means "what is it?" with different spelling, but it's said the same way.

I love picking names for my characters I think it one of the best parts of creating a character. My name Erin is an early name of Ireland now used in poetry. I've also been told it means "one of peace". My mother picked the name because she was a big fan of Happy Days! No lie I was named after Erin Moran lol.

Great contest and I'm really looking forward to reading 13 to Life!*Erin Leigh*

My name is Cindy too. My dad swears this isn't true but my mom says that my dad had a crush on a girl named Cindy when he was in school and that she passed away in an auto accident. she thinks he wanted to name me Cindy after her, in honor or her, but he won't admit to it.

My name is Mary and this is what the site Shannon had on your post says about my name:The meaning is not known for certain, but there are several theories including "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", and "wished for child". However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry "beloved" or mr "love".LOL!! Sea of bitterness. I was named after Mary the mother of Christ. Not really that much to live up to or anything. :/ Thanks for the fun post!!

This book sounds AWESOME! And thanks for the great giveaway!!!My name, Candace, is just a name. I don't know what it means. But I do know my mom named me Candace because she wanted to call me Candy. I was so sick of the teasing that by 1st grade I was CANDACE. NOT Candy!

My kids names do have some meaning behind them. My daughters name is Phaedra and means bright and shiny. My favorite character (Kushiels Legacy books) is named Phedre as well. And there's a Greek Goddess whose name was Phaedra as well (not a great story behind that one though;)My sons name is Jaevin and it's for his grandparents, Jane and Calvin. A combo of both names! I couldn't find a meaning for it though, it doesn't appear to be a real name. I just made it up!

I'm originally from Sri Lanka. In my family, people have proper British first names and Sri Lankan middle names. What can I say, we were colonized by the British (and Portugese, so I have a Portugese last name, go figure).

So my first name is Marian, no idea why and now my parents are not around for me to ask.

My name doesn't have much meaning, based on the given website, it's just a version of a name used in a Shakespeare play or something. My mom just liked the name. And at the time it was a very popular name.

I've been in classes where there were 3-4 of us and the professor had the tendency to leave off last names when calling roll!

Jessica - My younger sister's name is also Jessica and at some point they were 6 Jessica hanging together. If you dared called one, it was down right scary to have all 6 of them turn and stare at you LOL

Awesome interview! So much in a name! But I'm sure the other characters all have names as unique as Pietr. And my name is Jennifer, which was probably my parents looking at the top American baby girl names, closing their eyes, and picking Jennifer. haha. :P

My name is actually very common, but spelled differently - Caitlyn. It's the Gaelic version of the English name Kathleen (which is my mom's name. She had NO IDEA she was naming me after her), and means "pure". Mom picked a name she liked, and wasn't too common at the time (surprise #2 - it's VERY common now). She first heard it on her favourite soap opera =D

I just wished she had spelled it a little more normally - I have to spell my name for everyone I meet.

My name - Jennifer - means "fair maiden" which makes me really LOL. That's so far from me it's not even funny :) I was named Jennifer b/c my parents couldn't get any more creative than that apparently!

My name is Chasity which is more commonly spelt Chastity. It means pure. I have a Hawaiian middle name which was blessed upon me by an aunt after she had a dream about me. It means "the rosy glow of the heavens."My maiden name that I've had most my life is also Hawaiian meaning "pieces" to a whole.

My daughters have been named with thought and care. I want their name to either reflect my love for them, what i hope and dream of them, or bestow a name upon them of someone I love dearly. Both daughters carry all Hawaiian names- which is my blood and my love.

Okay I may get flak for this! First my name is Dawn which means daybreak, a new day, etc. Here is the flak part. I have always had a hard time with my name due in most part to being physically and mentally abused by my mother. So when asked about my name I often tell people I was named that because you turn the "w" upside down and what do you get - damn (hope that is okay to write that here).

My name Raquel means: Spanish form of Rachel, a cognate of the Ecclesiastic Late Latin and Ecclesiastic Greek Rhachel, which is derived from the Hebrew ranel (ewe). The name is bornein the Bible by the younger of Jacob's wives. She was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

My mother named me after Raquel Welch. My mother liked her as well as her name. Considerin I think Rquel Welch looks fabulous for a woman her age and she is an awesome actress I couldn't have been named after a more worthy person.

I think if I stay true to who I am and can grow old gracefully I will have surpassed the potential my name declares I have.

My name is Lisette (French actually) and it means God is my Oath. That is definitely not why my parents named me that. They just saw it on the credits of a tv show/soap opera and thought it was pretty (I sure think it's pretty hehe). They did the same with my sister Yessenia hehe